China has removed 19 officials, including nine top military officers, from its list of lawmakers just ahead of the country’s annual Two Sessions political meetings next week. The removals were announced by the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, but no official reason was given.
Key figures affected include:
- Li Qiaoming, commander of the PLA Ground Force
- Shen Jinlong, former PLA Navy commander
- Sun Shaochong, former party chief of Inner Mongolia
- Other senior military officers
The move comes weeks after Zhang Youxia, China’s highest-ranking general and one of President Xi Jinping’s closest allies, was removed amid allegations of “serious violations of discipline and law,” a term often used to denote corruption.
Since taking power, Xi has made anti-corruption campaigns a hallmark of his administration, famously targeting both “tigers and flies”—high-ranking officials and lower-level bureaucrats alike. Critics, however, argue that these purges sometimes serve to eliminate political rivals.
Previous military purges include an October 2025 crackdown that removed nine top generals. Officials say the campaigns aim to strengthen discipline and loyalty within the People’s Liberation Army while rooting out corruption.
The Two Sessions, scheduled for March 4–11 in Beijing, will bring thousands of delegates together for the NPC and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, where China’s five-year policy plan and annual economic targets will be announced.
This latest purge highlights Xi’s continued consolidation of power within both the political and military leadership, reinforcing anti-corruption as a central tool in his governance strategy.